Motion adaptive television signal processing system

Abstract

A motion adaptive television signal processing system is disclosed. An image change estimator estimates the image change over an image time interval. A television signal processor adaptively processes the signal in response to a control signal. A control signal generator is coupled between the image change estimator and the adaptive television signal processor. The control signal generated exhibits a function substantially described by: K=Ae-b/x where K is the value of the control signal, A is the maximum value the control signal can attain, x is the estimated image change, and b is a constant. In a second embodiment, a second estimator estimates a parameter of the television signal. The relationship of the control signal to the estimated image change is varied as a function of the estimated parameter.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A television signal processing system, comprising: a source of a television signal;   means, coupled to said source, for estimating image changes over at least one image scan time interval;   means, coupled to said source, for adaptively processing said television signal in response to a control signal; and   means, coupled between said estimator and said adaptive processor, for generating said control signal exhibiting a function substantially described by:   K=Ae.sup.-b/x        where K is the value of said control signal, A is the maximum value said control signal can attain, x is said estimated change, and b is a constant.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1, wherein b=0.924. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim 1, wherein said control signal generator comprises a read only memory. 
     
     
       4. A television signal processing system, comprising: a source of a television signal;   means, coupled to said source, for estimating image changes over at least one image scan-time interval;   means, coupled to said source, for adaptively processing said television signal in response to a control signal; and   means, coupled between said estimator and said adaptive processor, for generating said control signal exhibiting a function substantially described by:   K=K.sub.f        for x less than a predetermined value, and   K=Ae.sup.-b/x        otherwise, where K is the value of said control signal, A is the maximum value said control signal can attain, x is said estimated change, and b is a constantand K f  is a predetermined minimum value.   
     
     
       5. The system of claim 4, wherein b=0.924. 
     
     
       6. The system of claim 4, wherein said control signal generator comprises a read only memory. 
     
     
       7. A television signal processing system comprising: a source of a television signal;   means, coupled to said source, for estimating image changes over at least one image scan time interval;   means, coupled to said source, for estimating a parameter of said television signal;   means, coupled to said source, for adaptively processing said television signal in response to a control signal; and   means, having respective input terminals coupled to said image change and said parameter estimators, and having an output terminal coupled to said adaptive processor, for generating said control signal having a minimum value for relatively small estimated changes, approaching a maximum value assymptotically for relatively large estimated changes, and exhibiting a monotonically decreasing slope for intermediate control signal values.   
     
     
       8. The system of claim 7, wherein the relationship of said control signal to said estimated image changes varies as a function of said estimated parameter. 
     
     
       9. The system of claim 7, wherein said control signal generator comprises a read only memory. 
     
     
       10. The system of claim 7, wherein said control signal generator exhibits a function described by:   K=K.sub.f     for x less than a predetermined value, and     K=Ae.sup.-b/x     otherwise, where K is the value of said control signal, A is said maximum value, x is said estimated change, b is a constant, and K f  is said minimum value.   
     
     
       11. The system of claim 10, wherein K f  varies as a function of said estimated parameter. 
     
     
       12. The system of claim 10, wherein b=0.924. 
     
     
       13. A television signal processing system, comprising: a source of a television signal representing successive scans of a image, each scan comprising a plurality of lines;   means, coupled to said source, for estimating image changes over at least one image scan time interval;   first processing means, coupled to said source, responsive to a plurality of signals representing respective lines within a first scan of said image;   second processing means, coupled to said source, responsive to a signal representing a line in a scan of said image other than said first scan;   means, having respective input terminals coupled to said first and second processing means, for combining the signals at said input terminals in proportion based on a control signal; and   means, coupled between said estimator and said combining means for generating said control signal having a minimum value for relatively small estimated image changes, approaching a maximum value assymptotically for relatively large estimated image changes, and exhibiting a monotonically decreasing slope for intermediate control signal values.   
     
     
       14. The system of claim 13, wherein said control signal generator comprises a read only memory. 
     
     
       15. The system of claim 13, wherein said control signal generator exhibits a function described by:   K=Ae.sup.-b/x     where K is the value of said control signal, A is said maximum value, x is said estimated change, and b is a constant.   
     
     
       16. The system of claim 15, wherein b=0.924. 
     
     
       17. The system of claim 13, wherein said control signal generator exhibits a function described by:   K=K.sub.f     for x less than a predetermined value, and     K=Ae.sup.-b/x     otherwise, where K is the value of said control signal, A is said maximum value, x is said estimated change, b is a constant, and K f  is said minimum value.   
     
     
       18. The system of claim 17, wherein b=0.924.